Wrist bandage

ABSTRACT

Wrist bandage, consisting of an anatomically shaped section which receives the wrist and the hand and which is formed from a single piece of flexible and elastic material, the section narrowing in the proximal direction, the section having, on the medial edge, a cutout for receiving the thumb, and with at least two straps secured on the medial edge, which straps can be secured on the dorsal side of the bandage, and with a pocket which is secured on the palmar side of the bandage, in particular sewn thereon, in such a way that the centre axis of the pocket forms an inwardly directed arch.

[0001] The invention relates to a wrist bandage for immobilizing thewrist.

[0002] Depending on their design and on the indications for which theyare intended, orthopaedic bandages exert a fixing, guiding, bracingand/or supporting action on the extremities of the human body.

[0003] These medical bandages must have a shape which corresponds to theanatomical circumstances in order to be able to act externally on thehuman body with a form fit and a force fit.

[0004] Medical bandages of this kind are produced by cutting out blanksfrom planar material, for example neoprene, knitted fabrics or wovenfabrics. The anatomically appropriate shape is obtained via the shape ofthe blanks or darts, for example with gussets, and subsequent joiningtogether of the blanks, as is also customary in articles of clothing.

[0005] This joining together can be done by sewing, gluing or otherconventional methods. The great disadvantage of these bandages is thatthe exact anatomical fit can be achieved only with difficulty and thereare a large number of connection points, for example seams. Theseconnection points change the properties of the material used, and thereis the danger of pressure points on the skin.

[0006] Dressings or bandages for the wrist are used in the treatment ofdistortions, contusions or sprains of the ulnar and radial ligaments.However, they can also support the healing process in the case offissures of the metacarpal bones. Finally, by means of appropriateimmobilization of the wrist, irritation of the metacarpal joints can bereduced to such a point that it entirely disappears.

[0007] EP 0 775 476 discloses a wrist bandage designed for both hands,using a flexible support material which has been anatomically shaped andon which two pockets are sewn, in each case in the lateral edge area,and these are used for receiving a splint. The bandage is applied andfixed around the wrist with the aid of several straps.

[0008] An advantage of the disclosed bandage is that it can be used forboth hands. To do this, all that needs to be done is to remove thesplint from one pocket and insert it into the other one.

[0009] However, a disadvantage of the bandage is that it is dividedalong the middle at least once, so that the bandage has to be sewntogether from several pieces in order to guarantee a good fit on thewrist.

[0010] The pockets provided are sewn straight onto the support material,and this causes unattractive and undesired falling of the folds when thebandage is being applied.

[0011] The object of the invention is to make available a bandage which,by means of an explicit fit, ensures a reliable and stable fixation ofthe wrist at a very low production outlay and does not have the stateddisadvantages of the prior art.

[0012] This object is achieved by a bandage as is specified in Claim 1.Claim 2 concerns an alternative embodiment of the bandage according tothe invention. The subclaims relate to advantageous developments of thebandage.

[0013] Accordingly, the invention provides a wrist bandage whichconsists of an anatomically shaped section which receives the wrist andthe hand and which is formed from a single piece of flexible and elasticmaterial,

[0014] the section narrowing in the proximal direction,

[0015] the section having, on the medial edge, a cutout for receivingthe thumb, and

[0016] with at least two straps secured on the medial edge, which strapscan be secured on the dorsal side of the bandage.

[0017] A pocket is secured on the palmar side of the bandage, inparticular sewn thereon, in such a way that the centre axis of thepocket forms an inwardly directed arch.

[0018] The pocket is in this case preferably situated in the edge areaof the section, at least in the area of the cutout for receiving thethumb.

[0019] In an alternative embodiment, the wrist bandage likewise consistsof an anatomically shaped section which receives the wrist and the handand which is formed from a single piece of flexible and elasticmaterial,

[0020] the section narrowing in the proximal direction,

[0021] the section having, on the medial edge, a cutout for receivingthe thumb, and

[0022] with at least two straps secured on the medial edge, which strapscan be secured on the dorsal side of the bandage

[0023] In contrast to the first variant, the pocket here is secured onthe palmar side of the bandage, in particular sewn thereon, in such away that the centre axis of the pocket has at least one inwardlydirected kink.

[0024] Here too, the pocket is situated preferably in the edge area ofthe section, at least in the area of the cutout for receiving the thumb.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the centre axis of the pocket has akink which encloses an angle of 150° to 170°.

[0026] The straps are preferably provided with a known velcro closurewhich is secured on a roughened surface, the roughened surface beingsecured on the dorsal side of the bandage in such a way that the centreaxis of the surface is located in an inwardly directed arch or thecentre axis of the surface has at least one inwardly directed kink.

[0027] Here too, it has proven particularly advantageous if the centreaxis has only one kink which encloses an angle of 150° to 170°.

[0028] The roughened surface is advantageously contiguous with the outeredge of the section.

[0029] It is moreover advantageous if one strap of the bandage issecured at the distal end of the medial edge, and the strap on thepalmar side is provided with a padding.

[0030] The bandage consists in particular of a material which isflexible in the medial and lateral direction and substantiallyinflexible in the proximal and distal direction.

[0031] In addition to this, however, neoprene and similar materials havealso proven suitable.

[0032] A substantially inflexible splint adapted to the anatomy of theinner surface of the hand can be inserted into the pocket of thebandage. The splint can be made of aluminium, for example.

[0033] In a further preferred embodiment of the bandage, the pocketsecured on the palmar side of the bandage, in particular sewn thereon,has a roughened surface, and the roughened surface secured on the dorsalside of the bandage, in particular sewn thereon, is designed as apocket. Thus, there are two preferably identical combinations ofpocket/roughened surface present on the bandage. In this way, it ispossible, with just a single design, to apply the bandage to eitherwrist, provided the splint has been inserted into the appropriatepocket.

[0034] The bandage according to the invention serves as a specialpost-traumatic and post-operative bandage for injuries in the wristregion.

[0035] A special bandage of this kind must have an explicit fit in orderto ensure a reliable and stable fixation of the wrist.

[0036] In addition, a bandage according to the invention should besimple and inexpensive to produce and, unlike the situation in the priorart, it should not have to be joined together from a large number ofcut-to-shape parts in order to achieve the necessary fit.

[0037] Surprisingly, it has also been found that because the pocket,receiving the splint, and the roughened surface are not sewn directlyonto the support material, as was previously the case, an excellentapplication of the bandage over the wrist is possible without falling ofthe folds.

[0038] A particularly advantageous embodiment of the bandage accordingto the invention will be described below with reference to a number offigures, but without thereby unnecessarily limiting the invention.

[0039]FIG. 1 shows the bandage according to the invention in the designfor the right wrist, and

[0040]FIG. 2 shows the bandage splint which is inserted into the pocketof the bandage, namely in a plan view and in a side view.

[0041] In FIG. 1, the bandage (1) according to the invention in apreferred embodiment is shown in the state before it is applied. Thebandage (1) is intended for the right wrist, and the one for the leftwrist will have a mirror-image configuration.

[0042] The bandage (1) has a central, anatomically shaped section (11)which receives the wrist and the hand and which is formed from a singlepiece of transversely elastic material. The section (11) narrows in theproximal direction.

[0043] There is also a cutout (12) present on the medial edge, whichcutout (12) serves to receive the right thumb when the bandage (1) isapplied.

[0044] At the distal end of the section (11) there is a further cutout(14) for increasing the mobility of the fingers.

[0045] The section (11) has an elastic band (13) sewn round all itsedges.

[0046] Moreover, a total of four straps (21, 22) are secured on themedial edge of the section (11), these straps (21, 22) serving to fixthe bandage (1) on the hand and on the wrist, respectively. In addition,the straps (21, 22) have a velcro closure by means of which they aresecured on a roughened surface (23), the roughened surface (23) beingsewn onto the dorsal side of the bandage (1) in such a way that thecentre axis of the surface (23) has an inwardly directed kink whichencloses an angle α of 165°, the angle being indicated on one of theouter edges of the surface (23).

[0047] Although not shown here, a padding (24) is arranged underneaththe strap (21) situated at the distal end of the medial edge, whichpadding (24) permits a more comfortable fit of the bandage (1).

[0048] A pocket (31) is sewn on the palmar side of the bandage (1) insuch a way that the centre axis of the pocket (31) like the centre axisof the surface (23) encloses an angle β of 165°, this angle also beingindicated on one of the outer edges of the pocket (31).

[0049] A splint (41) preferably made of aluminium is inserted into thepocket (31) so that, with the bandage (1) applied, the fixation andstabilization of the wrist are ensured.

[0050] Finally, a label, on which it is possible to indicate on whichhand the bandage (1) is to be applied, is sewn onto the surface (23).

[0051] For applying the bandage (1), the latter is applied with theunderside according to FIG. 1 on the inner surface of the patient'shand, so that the cutout (12) receives the thumb. The pocket (31) withthe splint (41) extends from the inner surface of the hand over thewrist as far as the forearm. The section (11) is then placed round thehand and fixed firmly by means of the straps (21, 22).

[0052] Finally, FIG. 2 shows the splint (41) in a plan view and in aside view, illustrating the anatomically appropriate shape of the splint(41) for the inner surface of the hand, the splint (41) being made ofaluminium and thus being largely inflexible.

1. Wrist bandage, consisting of an anatomically shaped section whichreceives the wrist and the hand and which is formed from a single pieceof flexible and elastic material, the section narrowing in the proximaldirection, the section having, on the medial edge, a cutout forreceiving the thumb, and with at least two straps secured on the medialedge, which straps can be secured on the dorsal side of the bandage, andwith a pocket which is secured on the palmar side of the bandage, inparticular sewn thereon, in such a way that the centre axis of thepocket forms an inwardly directed arch.
 2. Wrist bandage, consisting ofan anatomically shaped section which receives the wrist and the hand andwhich is formed from a single piece of flexible and elastic material,the section narrowing in the proximal direction, the section having, onthe medial edge, a cutout for receiving the thumb, and with at least twostraps secured on the medial edge, which straps can be secured on thedorsal side of the bandage, and with a pocket which is secured on thepalmar side of the bandage, in particular sewn thereon, in such a waythat the centre axis of the pocket has an inwardly directed kink. 3.Bandage according to claim 2, characterized in that the centre axis ofthe pocket has an inwardly directed kink which encloses an angle of 150°to 170°.
 4. Bandage according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that thestraps are provided with a velcro closure which is secured on aroughened surface, the roughened surface being secured on the dorsalside of the bandage in such a way that the centre axis of the surface islocated in an inwardly directed arch or the centre axis of the surfacehas at least one inwardly directed kink.
 5. Bandage according to claim 1or 2, characterized in that one strap of the bandage is secured at thedistal end of the medial edge, and the strap on the palmar side isprovided with a padding.
 6. Bandage according to claim 1 or 2,characterized in that the bandage is made of a material which isflexible in the medial and lateral direction and substantiallyinflexible in the proximal and distal direction.
 7. Bandage according toclaim 1 or 2, characterized in that a substantially inflexible splintadapted to the anatomy of the inner surface of the hand is inserted intothe pocket of the bandage.
 8. Bandage according to at least one of thepreceding claims, characterized in that the pocket secured on the palmarside of the bandage, in particular sewn thereon, has a roughenedsurface, and in that the roughened surface secured on the dorsal side ofthe bandage, in particular sewn thereon, is designed as a pocket.